Olaleye Aluko
A 12-year-old girl, identified only as Favour, has been rescued by the police in the Mafoluku, Oshodi area of Lagos State, where her aunt and the husband allegedly took her to get rid of a pregnancy.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Favour had been allegedly raped several times by her aunt’s husband, identified as Johnbull Dike, before she conceived.
It was learnt that while Favour was put in police’s care, a manhunt was launched for Johnbull, a tricycle rider, who fled the area after the police rescued the girl.
It was gathered that Dike’s wife and the nurse who was caught during the abortion had been arrested by the Akinpelu Police Division.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the girl was allegedly taken to the nurse on Sunmola Street, Mafoluku, on Wednesday, May 4.
It was learnt that some residents gave a tip-off to a child rights’ group, Child Protection Network, which involved the police.
Our correspondent learnt from a source that Favour, who was discovered to be four months pregnant, had been allegedly raped on several occasions by the suspect in January 2016.
It was said that Johnbull, a father of three, and Happiness, however, found out that Favour was pregnant in February, after which they bundled her to stay with their trader friend in Mafoluku, to hide the evil deed.
However, the woman was said to have returned Favour to the couple in April, saying she could not afford to take care of her.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Johnbull and Happiness, who lived on Brown Street, subsequently took Favour to the nurse to get rid of the pregnancy.
Our correspondent learnt that the matter was also reported to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team in Alausa.
When our correspondent visited the area, a worker with the Child Protection Network, Ebenezer Omejalile, said Favour did not inform her aunt about the rape, because the suspect had allegedly threatened to kill her if she did.
He said, “The case was brought to my attention by a community development committee secretary in Oshodi, Mr. Mamora. The victim was raped and impregnated by her aunt’s husband.
“I went to see the girl at the place where the aunt had taken her with the connivance of a nurse to abort the pregnancy. The girl underwent a scan before the abortion. It was a failed process because she began to bleed at the nurse’s place. The police were informed on that Wednesday and the two women were arrested, while Johnbull fled.
“The policemen took Favour to a proper hospital to get rid of the remaining foetus. As it is, the suspect is on the run because he knew that the girl is with the police.”
At the police station, Happiness told our correspondent that her husband had fled from the house since the day of her arrest.
She said, “He has not called me since that day. His phone numbers are also switched off.”
A police source told PUNCH Metro that Happiness had been granted bail because her last child had an infection and needed her attention.
She said, “Our investigation shows that the nurse is a quack. She is not trained and she proceeded to do abortion for a 12-year-old girl. The suspect’s wife has a two-year-old son who is being treated for an infection. So, she has been granted bail.
“She did not deny that they wanted to abort the pregnancy. The story they painted to the nurse was that the girl was raped by an unidentified hoodlum.”
Our correspondent also sighted Favour at the station before she was taken to the state command headquarters in Ikeja.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that the police were on the trail of Dike.
She said, “There is a case of defilement against Johnbull. His wife and the nurse have been arrested for aborting a pregnancy. The Commissioner of Police has ordered that the case be transferred to the Gender Unit of the command.
“The suspect is on the run, but efforts are on to arrest him. Meanwhile, the wife and the nurse will both be charged to court.”
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